Carbonating apparatus



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Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATESv PATENT oFFlcE JOSEPHII. MALONE, OFWORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF FORTY PER CENT T DANIEL OCONNELL,OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS GARBONATING APPARATUS Application ledl July20, 1928. Serial No. 294,142.

This invention relates to apparatus for preparing carbonated water foruse in soda fountains and for other similar purposes.

In the preparation of such carbonated water, it is customary to use highpressure tanks of carbonio acid gas, and to provide a mixing apparatusin which the gas and water is mechanically combined, or in other words,in which the water becomes charged with the carbonio acid gas.

It is the object of my invention to greatly simplify the constructionand operation of such mixing apparatus, discarding substantially allmovable parts, and providing an apparatus which is automatic in itsoperation and which will provide a constant supply of carbonated waterso long as an adequate gas supply is maintained.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which may beoperated directly by city water pressure and without requiring theapplication of any other form of power for the mixing operation.

My invention further relatesto arrangements and'combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig.1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved carbonatingapparatus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the control valvemechanism, and

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view, taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, my improved carbonating apparatus comprises aclosed tank k10 having a head 11 providing passages for a gas inlet pipe12, a water inlet pipe 13, a discharge or outlet pipe 14 for thecarbonated water, and a safety or vent pipe 15.

While these several pipes may be attached directly to the tank 10, it isfound more desirable to connect the several pipes through passages inthe single head 11, which is threaded or otherwise secured in the top ofthe tank.

The usual gas cylinder 16 is connected througha reducing valve 17 to thegas inlet pipe 12, which extends into the upper part of the tank 10. Thedischarge pipe 14 extends nearly to the bottom of the tank 10, and atits outer end is connected to a suitable faucet or tap at the sodafountaink or Wherever the carbonated Water is to be used.

The vent pipe 15 is provided with a safety valve 18, which may be set torelieve the tank whenever a selected pressure is exceeded, and with avacuum relief valve 19 which will prevent the collapse of the tank if avacuum is accidentally formed therein.

The Water supply pipe 13 is provided with a check valve 20, preventingreverse flow of water therethrough, and is connected through anautomatic shut-off valve 21 and a pipe 22 to a suitable supply of waterunder pressure, such as a city water main. Shut-off valves 23, 24 and 25are provided in the supply pipe 13and discharge pipe 14, all of thesevalves being normally open.

A spray nozzle 30 is mounted within the. tank 10 on the lower end of thewater supply pipe 13, said pipe being of such length that the spraynozzle 30 is positioned above the level of the water W in the tank 10.This nozzle is preferably of substantially circular form, horizontallydisposed, and with many small openings in its upper face.

The control valve 21 (Fig. 2.) comprises a valve 35 mounted on the upperend of a valve rod 36 slidable in a suitable stuiling box or packing 37and having its reduced lower end engaged by a V-shaped block 38 iixed ona ioat arm 39, pivoted at 40 in the casing 41 of the control valve 21. i

A hollow ball or loat 42 is mounted on the arm 39, and the casing 41 hasa connecting passage 43 to the interior of the tank 10. When the water Win the tank 10 rises to a predetermined height, it raises the ball float42thus pushing the valve 35 upward against a port or seat 44 for thecontrol valve 21.

The pipe 22 connects into a chamber 45 in the valve casing, which inturn -is-connected through passages 46 and 47 to the middle of the valveseat 44.

The pipe 13 is connected to a second chamber 50 into which water isdischarged through the passage 47 in the port 44 when the valve 35 islowered.

The parts of the valve are readily accessible by removing a cap 52,which covers and encloses the valve 35 and port 44.

The method of operation of my improved carbonating apparatus isasfollows:

The reducing valve 17 is set to provide gas in the pipe 12 at a desiredpressure and the connections to the tank 16 are opened, so that there isa vconstant supply of gas at the selected pressure in the upper partofthe tank 10.

Water is admitted through the pipe 13 to the spray nozzle 30, and thewater pressure in the pipe 13 is greater than the gas pressure in thepipe 12 or tank 10. Consequently, water issues through the spray nozzleinto the up er part of the tank 10, which is already lled with gas, andthe water in the form of iine spray takes up the gas and becomes fullycharged therewith.

The charged or carbonated water collects in the lower part of the tank10 and gradually rises therein until it reaches the level indicated inFig. 1, when the float 42 is raised, closing the valve 35 andprevent-ing further admission of water to the tank 10.

The tank is thus filled with carbonated or charged water and is underthe pressure determined by the reducing valve 17. Whenever the tap orfaucet in the dischar e pipe 14 is opened, carbonated water will eforced therefrom by the gas pressure in thetank 10.y

This will lower the level of the water W il). the tank, whereupon thefloat 42 will drop, opening the valve 35, and admitting additional waterto be sprayed into the upper part of the tank and charged with gas. Assoon as the water level is restored, the flow of water ceases.

I have thus provided an apparatus which is entirely automatic in itsoperation and in which no moving parts are used in the charging orcarbonizing of the water. Furthermore, the full supply of charged wateris maintained in the tank 10 so long as the supply of gas in the tank 16is maintained, and

otherwise the apparatus requires absolutely no attention from theoperator or employee. My improved carbonating apparatus is very muchsimplified over any apparatus for similar purposes with which I amfamiliar, is extremely reliable in operation on account of its simpleconstruction and absence of movin parts.

Havmg thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset .forth in the claims, but what I claim is 1. Carbonating apparatuscomprising a :clbsed mixing tank, an inlet thereto for gas underpresure, .a normally closed outlet for carbonated water, means toregulate the admission of water so as to automaticall maintain asubstantially constant water level in said tank, and below the topthereof, thereby to leave a space for gas and a spray device in saidtank connected to said water supply and positioned above the constant'water level, and in the path of gas entering said space.

2. Carbonating apparatus comprising a closed mixing tank, an inletthereto for as under pressure, a normally closed outlet or carbonatedwater, means to regulate the admission of water so as to automaticallmain- -tain a substantially constant water evel in said tank, said waterand gas inlets being above the constant water level and the outlet beingbelow said water level, saidwater inlet being located in the path of gasfrom the gas inlet. p

3. Carbonating apparatus comprising a closed mixing tank, an inletthereto .for gas under pressure, a normally closed outlet for carbonatedwater, means to control the admission of water to said tank, andV meansto relieve insuilicient pressure in said tank.

4. Carbonating apparatus comprising a closed mixing tank, means tomaintain a substantially constant water level therein, with a gas filledspace above said water level, and means to spray water into said gasfilled space, the operation of said spraying means being controlled bythe water level in said tank, said tank having a detachable headprovided with inlet passages for gas and water communicatingrespectively with said gas filled space and said spray means.

5. Carbonating apparatus comprising va closed mixing tank, means tomaintain a substantially constant water level therein, with a gas filledspace above said waterlevel, a horizontally disposed spray nozzleositioned in said gas-filled space and provi ed with up- .wardlydirected spray openings, and means to supply water under pressurethereto.

6. Carbonating apparatus comprising a closed mixing tank, an'inletthereto forv gas under pressure, a normally closed outlet: forcarbonated water, means to control the admission of 4water to said tank,means to relieve excessive pressure in said tank, and means to relieveinsufficient pressure in said tank.

7. Carbonating apparatus comprising a closed mixing tank and adetachable head therefor, said head having inlet passages for gas andwater, means to maintain a substantially constant water level in saidtank with a gas filled space abovesaid water level, a horizontallydisposed spray nozzle positioned in said gas filled space and providedwith upwardly directed spray openings located adjacent said gas outletpassage, and means to supply water under pressure thereto.

8. Carbonating apparatus comprising a 'loo mixing tank, having anopeningvin the top` y her effective to close said side opening, saidhead having inlet passages for gas and water, a discharge passage forWater and a vent passage therein, and said oat chamber having inlet andoutlet passages for Water, and means to connect said outlet passage ofthe oat chamber; to the Water inlet passage of said head.

9. Carbonating apparatus comprising a mixing tank having an opening inthe top thereof and an opening in the side thereof, a detachable headtherefor effective to close said top opening and a detachable floatchamber effective to close said side opening, said head having inletpassages for gas and water, a discharge passage for Water and a ventpassage therein, and said oat chamber having inlet and outlet passagesfor Water, means to connect said outlet passage of the float chamber tothe Water inlet passage of said head, said inlets for the gas and Waterin the detachable head being located above the level of water in thetank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOSEPH E. MALONE.

